Ondo state University (now Ekiti State University) Ado Ekiti was the first State University in Nigeria to have a Department of Psychology. It was established in 1983 with three foundation members of academic staff. The Department had 8 foundation students. Since 1983, the staff strength had risen to thirteen and the students’ population presently is about 500. The Department started its post-graduate programme in the 1996/97 Session with three M.Sc. students. Currently it has several M.Sc. and Ph.D. Students. In addition to the above programme, the Department runs two programmes at the Directorate of Part Time Studies of the University, namely Bachelor Degree in Industrial Psychology and Personnel Management and Masters in Personnel Management (MPM).

The Department, like most Psychology Departments, maintain a modest laboratory, where Psychological experiments can be performed. The Department has set up Psychology Clinic to provide Psychological assistance to members of the University community. The Clinic also serve as an avenue to train Clinical Psychologists as professional clinicians.

The Department played host to the Nigerian Psychological Association Annual Conference in 1989. It was the 25^th anniversary of Psychology in Nigeria. The activity was significant as it is a hallmark in the history of Psychology in Nigeria. In 1990, the Department was involved in organizing a one-week programme on the use Computer in the Social Sciences, Dr Webster , a Full Bright Scholar from the United States was the Guest Lecturer. Till date the Department has witnessed series of developments which include hosting of the 4^th Annual and Scientific Conference of Nigerian Association of Social Psychologists (NASP) in October 2023, and National Association of Clinical Psychologists’ (NACP) Annual conference held shortly after the NASP conference on the 8^th of October to 11^th,2023. Several academic staff have served as the Head of the Department since the inception.

 The following academic staffs have served as Head of Department

Philosophy of the Department

The Philosophy, behind the establishment of the programme is that the knowledge of the theories and principles of Psychology and Human behaviour shall not be limited to teaching and research but will equally address the practical application of these principles to contemporary living. This philosophy premeditates the recognition given to the science of Psychology as a Professional endeavor in Nigeria and the world over. 

Objectives

The objectives of B.Sc. Degree in Psychology are to:

1. To graduate students who have been trained in the basic concepts, theories, techniques and methodology of psychology generally.
2. To provide students (the future Psychologists) the opportunity to test the waters of professionalism through the available range of preliminary area of specialization in Psychology.
3. To prepare students who would go for further training in social work, occupational therapy, Psycho-therapy and fields where knowledge in Psychology are relevant, and as workers.
4. To prepare students to understand themselves and the behaviour of others better and to function effectively both as persons and as workers.
5. To train students who apply their knowledge of the discipline of general Psychology to the contemporary Nigeria Society, and the world at large.

The Mission Statement.

To equip our students with the basic principles of Psychology with the aims of objective assessment, understanding and explanation while predicting, Modifying and controlling human behaviours. To meet the global standard while putting into consideration Millennium Development Goals.